Reviews > Stuff Sacks > Dry Bags > Sea to Summit Stopper Dry Bag > Test Report by Kara Stanley

SEA TO SUMMIT STOPPER DRY BAG
TEST SERIES BY KARA STANLEY
INITIAL REPORT
December 29, 2012

TESTER INFORMATION

I backpacked for the first time in 2006 and am now hooked. I have hiked most of my life in the South on flat land or small hills. I have hiked mostly on the east coast, doing weekend trips in the Appalachian Mountains. Since moving to Arizona, my hikes have ranged from short desert hikes to overnight backpacking trips throughout the state. I am working towards lightening the load and currently use a solo non-free standing tent, canister stove, and purification tabs to cut down on weight. Most of my hikes are solo and range from an overnight trip to 4-5 nights on the trail.

INITIAL REPORT

PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

From Sea to Summit's website

Manufacturer: Sea To Summit
Year of Manufacture: 2012
Manufacturer's Website: http://www.seatosummit.com
MSRP: N/A
Listed Weight: 4.4 oz (125 g)
Measured Weight: 4.8 oz (136 g)
Size Tested: 13L
Color Options: Blue (color being tested) Lime, and Yellow

Details from Sea To Summit's Website:

These fully welded dry bags are made with 210D nylon fabric with TPU lamination on the outer face for durability, water shedding, and abrasion resistance. The clean profile and oval base resists rolling and allows for easy packing. The high strength fabric is UV resistant and won’t crack in extreme cold.

* 210D nylon fabric with TPU laminate
* Durable & smooth water shedding exterior
* Waterproof TPU roll top closure does not wick moisture
* All welded construction for permanently sealed seams
* Features the patent pending Field Replacement Buckle with stainless steel pins

The empty bag compared to a 1 L bottle

Description (base) x height weight
Stopper Dry Bag 5L (7in x 4in) x 15in 4 oz/115g
Stopper Dry Bag 8L (5in x 8in) x 17in 3.6oz/101g
Stopper Dry Bag 13L (9in x 6in) x 20in 4.4oz/125g
Stopper Dry Bag 20L (11in x 7in) x 24in 6.3oz/180g
Stopper Dry Bag 35L (13in x 8in) x 28 in 8.5 oz/240g
Stopper Dry Bag 65L 15in x 10in) x 33in 11.5oz/327g

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

The bag seems very heavy duty, yet light weight compared to other dry bags I have looked at in the past. The bag came with a sticker on the top detailing how to properly close the dry bag before using it. The sticker is removed before using it, but the roll top has the directions printed on as a quick reminder - " to seal roll at least 3 times then clip buckle."

The directions

One of the neat features for the product is the ability to replace the buckle should it break. This may extend the life of the bag as the bag cannot be sealed without the buckle.

Sealed Bag

Also once buckled, the bucked part makes for a nice handle for the bag.

TRYING IT OUT

Oval Shaped Bottom

I took this dry bag with me on a 3 day 45 mile ( 72 km) backpacking trip to the Grand Canyon. I used it for my food - both to keep it dry should it rain (which it did not) and to protect the rest of my gear should I have a food packaging malfunction (which I did not). The first thing that I noticed was the oval shape made the packed bag into more of a box-shape instead of a tubular shape like my round bottomed dry does.

Once packed with food for three days, the dry bag fit nicely in the top of my backpack - sitting across the top parallel to the bottom on the backpack. During the trip when we would stop for food breaks, I did notice that the bag did not roll when laid flat, just as advertised!

The bag did not pick up any noticeable odors from the food, though my food was also packed in zip-lock bags.

Since I did not have a chance to field test it in wet conditions, I submerged the bag in a sink full of water to test the seal. I found that the seal held when the bag was held under water for a minute. When opened the bag after submerging it, I did notice a few drops of water at the mouth of the bag, but not evidence that the water had passed the seal.

SUMMARY

So far the bag as worked well. I haven't used it in wet conditions, but I am sure that I will have it with me in water canyons soon!

Pros

* Oval bottoms creates a flat shape
* Easy to use
* Was water tight when tested

Cons:

* None yet

My Long Term Report will be out in about 4 months time, so check back to see how this dry bag holds up! I would like to thank Sea to Summit and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test this dry bag.

Reviews > Stuff Sacks > Dry Bags > Sea to Summit Stopper Dry Bag > Test Report by Kara Stanley